Niskayuna High School student recognized for video

Steve Honicki, Media Arts Teacher, Niskayuna High School, submitted the following:
Student filmmaker Kristjan Salasoo recently received “Special Recognition” for his use of Live Music and Student Art in his production in the national youth video contest — If I Had a Trillion Dollars.

The American Friends Service Committee and National Priorities Project sponsored a youth video project to help young people (13-23) enter the cost of war in discussion on how monies were being allocated in our country. After deciding a point of view, students were asked to share their ideas about what they would do — for themselves, their family and/or their community — with $1 trillion by making a short (1-3 minute) video.

Students were asked to consider the fact that the money that is being spent on the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan reached $1 trillion on May 30, 2010. This money could be spent in our communities on many things that now face cuts, like after school programs, art and music programs, and summer jobs.